Skip to main content
Log in

Polymorphism of BMPR1B, BMP15 and GDF9 fecundity genes in prolific Garole sheep

  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mutation studies in different prolific sheep breeds have shown that the transforming growth factor beta super family ligands viz. the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9/FecG), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15/FecX) and associated type I receptors, bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR1B/FecB), are major determinant of ovulation rate and consequent increase in litter size. The Garole sheep is a highly prolific sheep breed of India. Characterization of fecundity genes in these animals could substantially improvise the breeding programme in these animals as well as other sheep breeds of the region. The present study was therefore designed with the objective of polymorphism study of fecundity genes in these prolific microsheep. A total of 11 point mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method. A competitive technique called tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-PCR was adapted to type a total of ten points of two ovine fecundity genes (GDF9 and BMP15). The FecB locus of the BMPR1B gene and G1 locus of GDF9 gene were found to be polymorphic. In FecB locus, two genotypes, wild type (FecB+) and mutant (FecBB), were detected with allele frequencies of 0.39 and 0.61, respectively. At G1 locus, two genotypes, mutant (A) and wild types (G) were detected with allele frequencies of 0.18 and 0.82, respectively. This study reports Garole sheep as the fourth sheep breed after Belclare/Cambridge, Lacaune and Small-tailed Han sheep, where coexisting polymorphism has been found in two different fecundity genes (BMPRIB and GDF9 genes).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bindon, B. M., Piper, L. R. and Hillarda, M. A., 1996. Prolific Sheep. Fahmy, M. H. Ed. (CAB International, UK).

  • Bodin, L., SanCristobal, M., Lecerf, F., Mulsant, P., Bibe, B., Lajous, D., Belloc, J.P., Eychenne, F., Amigues, Y. and Elsen, J.M., 2002. Segregation of a major gene influencing ovulation in progeny of Lacaune meat sheep. Genetics Selection Evolution, 34, 447-464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bodin, L., Di Pasquale, E., Fabre, S., Bontoux, M., Monget, P., Ersani, L. and Mulsant, P., 2007. A novel mutation in the bone morphogenetic protein 15 gene causing defective protein secretion is associated with both increased ovulation rate and sterility in Lacaune sheep, Endocrinology, 148, 393-400.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, M. X., Cheng, R., Chen, G. H., Fang, L. and Ye, S. C., 2005a. Study on bone morphogenetic protein 15 as a candidate gene for prolificacy of Small Tailed Han sheep and Hu sheep. Journal of Anhui Agriculture University, 32, 278-282.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, M. X., Sang, L. H., Wang, J. Y., Fang, L. and Ye, S. C., 2005b. Study on BMP15 and GDF9 as candidate genes for prolificacy of Small Tailed Han sheep. Acta Genetica Sinica, 32, 38-45.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chu, M. X., Jiao, C. L., He, Y. Q.,Wang, J. Y., Liu, Z. H. and Chen, G. H., 2007. Association between PCR-SSCP of bone morphogenetic protein 15 gene and prolificacy in Jining grey goats. Animal Biotechnology, 18, 263–274.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dai, R., 2004. Analyzed relationship between CLPG, BMP15 gene polymorphic and production performance of seven sheep populations in north of Xinjiang. (Master's Thesis Nanjing Agriculture University. [in Chinese])

  • Davis, G. H., Montgomery, G. W., Allison, A. J., Kelly, R. W. and Bray, A. R., 1982. Segregation of a major gene influencing fecundity in progeny of Booroola sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 25, 525–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, G. H., Galloway, S. M., Ross, I. K., Gregan, S. M., Ward, J., Nimbkar, B. V., Ghalsasi, P. M., Nimbkar, C., Gray, G. D., Subandriyo, Inounu, I., Tiesnamurti, B., Martyniuk, E., Eythorsdottir, E., Mulsant, P., Lecerf, F., James, P., Hanrahan, Bradford, G. E. and Wilson, T., 2002. DNA Tests in Prolific Sheep from Eight Countries Provide New Evidence on Origin of the Booroola (FecB) Mutation. Biology of Reproduction, 66, 1869-1874.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, G. H., Balkrishnan, L., Ross, I. K., Wilson, T., Galloway, S. M., Lumsden, B. M., Hanrahan, J. P., Mullen, M., Mao, X. Z., Wang, G. L., Zhao, Z. S., Zeng, Y. Q., Robinson, J. J., Mavrogenis, A. P., Papachristoforou, C., Peter, C., Baumung, R., Cardyn, Baujenane, I., Cockett, N. E., Eythorsdottir, E., Arranz, J. J. and Notter, D. R., 2006. Investigation of the Booroola (Fec B) and Inverdale (Fec X I) muatation in 21 prolific breeds and strains of sheep samples in 13 countries. Animal Reproduction Science, 92, 87-96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dube, J. L., Wang, P., Elvin, J., Lyons, K. M., Celeste, A. J. and Matzuk, M. M., 1998. The bone morphogenetic protein 15 gene is X-linked and expressed in oocytes. Molecular Endocrinology, 12, 1809–1817.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fabre, S., Pierre, A., Mulsant, P., Bodin, L., DiPasquale, E., Persani, L., Monget, P. and Monniaux, D., 2006. Regulation of ovulation rate in mammals: contribution of sheep genetic models. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 4, 20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galloway, S. M., McNatty, K. P., Cambridge, L. M., Laitinen, M. P., Jennifer, J. L., Jokiranta, S., McLaren, R. J., Luiro, K., Dodds, K. G., Montgomery, G. W., Beattie, A. E., Davis, G. H. and Ritvos, O., 2000. Mutations in an oocyte-derived growth factor gene (BMP15) cause increased ovulation rate and infertility in a dosage-sensitive manner. Nature Genetics, 25, 279–283.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, F., Shou-ren, L., Shi, G. Q. and Yang, L. G., 2007. Polymorphism of FecB gene in nine sheep breeds or strains and its effects on litter size, lamb growth and development. Animal Reproduction Science, 99, 44–52

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hanrahan, P. J., Gregan, S. M., Mulsant, P., Mullen, M., Davis, G. H., Powell, R. and Galloway, S. M., 2004. Mutations in the genes for oocyte-derived growth factors GDF9 and BMP15 are associated with both increased ovulation rate and sterility in Cambridge and Belclare sheep (Ovis aries). Biology of Reproduction, 70, 900–909.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juengel, J. L., Hudson, N. L., Whiting, L. and McNatty, K. P., 2004. Effects of immunization against bone morphogenetic protein 15 and growth differentiation factor 9 on ovulation rate, fertilization, and pregnancy in ewes. Biology of Reproduction, 70, 557–561.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, S. F., Jiang, Y. L. and Du, L. X., 2003. Studies of BMPR-IB and BMP15 as candidate genes for fecundity in little tailed han sheep. Yi Chuan Xue Bao [Acta Genetica Sinica], 30, 755-760

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McNatty, K. P., Lun, S., Heath, D. A., Ball, K., Smith, P., Hudson, N. L., McDiarmid, J., Gibb, M. and Henderson, K. M., 1986. Differences in ovarian activity between Booroola Merino ewes which were homozygous, heterozygous and non-carriers of a major gene influencing their ovulation rate. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 77, 193-205.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNatty, K. P., Juengel, J. L., Reader, K. L., Lun, S., Myllymaa, S., Lawrence, S. B., Western, A., Meerasahib, M. F., Mottershead, D. G., Groome, N. P., Ritvos, O. and Laitinen, M. P., 2005. Bone morphogenetic protein 15 and growth differentiation factor 9 cooperate to regulate granulosa cell function. Reproduction, 129, 473–480.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monteagudo, L. V., Ponz, R., Tejedor, M. T., Lavina, A. and Sierra, I., 2009. A 17 bp deletion in the Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 (BMP15) gene is associated to increased prolificacy in the Rasa Aragonesa sheep breed. Animal Reproduction Science, 110, 139-146.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newton, C. R., Graham, A., Heptinstall, L. E., Powell, S. J., Summers, C., Kalsheker, N., Smith, J. G. and Markham, A.F., 1989. Analysis of any point mutation in DNA. The amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). Nucleic Acids Research, 17, 2503-2516.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nimbkar, C., Ghalsasi, P. M., Ghatge, R. R. and Gray, G. D., 1998. Establishment of prolific Garole sheep from West Bengal in the semi-arid Deccan plateau of Maharashtra. In Proceedings of 6th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Armidale, Australia, 1998, vol. 25, pp. 257–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper, L. R. and Bindon, B. M., 1982. The Booroola Merino and the performance of medium non-peppin crosses at Armidale. In: Piper, L. R., Bindon, B. M., and Nethery, R. D. (Eds.), The Booroola Merino. Proceedings of a Workshop, Armidale, 24-25 August 1980, CSIRO, pp. 9–19.

  • Polley, S., De, S., Batabyal, S., Kaushik, R., Yadav, P., Arora, J. S., Chattopadhyay, S., Pan, S., Brahma, B., Datta, T. K. and Goswami, S. L., 2009. Polymorphism of fecundity genes (BMPR1B, BMP15 and GDF9) in the Indian prolific Black Bengal goat. Small Ruminant Research, 85, 122–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sambrook, J., and Russell, D., 2001. Molecular cloning. A laboratory manual 3rd ed. (Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor N.Y.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Souza, C. J., MacDougall, C., Campbell, B. K., McNeilly, A. S. and Baird, D. T., 2001. The Booroola (FecB) phenotype is associated with a mutation in the bone morphogenetic receptor type 1 B (BMPR1B) gene. Journal of Endocrinology, 169, R1-R6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, G. L., Mao, X. Z., Davis, G. H., Zhao, Z. S., Zhang, L. J. and Zeng, Y. Q., 2003. DNA tests in Hu sheep and Han sheep (small tail) showed the existence of Booroola (FecB) mutation. Journal of Nanjing Agricultural University, 26, 104-106.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ye, S., Dhillon, S., Ke, X., Collins, A. R. and Day, I. N., 2001. An efficient procedure for genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms. Nucleic Acids Research, 29, e88–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Biswajit Brahma.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Polley, S., De, S., Brahma, B. et al. Polymorphism of BMPR1B, BMP15 and GDF9 fecundity genes in prolific Garole sheep. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 985–993 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9518-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9518-1

Keywords

Navigation